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Jessica Pegula beat world number one Aryna Sabalenka in straight sets to move into the semi-finals of the WTA Finals in Cancun, Mexico<\/p>\n
Pegula, 29, clinched victory on her seventh match point, sealing a 6-4 6-3 victory over the Belarusian, who made 33 unforced errors.<\/p>\n
Elena Rybakina defeated Maria Sakkari 6-0 6-7 (4-7) 7-6 (7-2).<\/p>\n
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She will now play Sabalenka on Thursday evening to determine the second qualifier from the group.<\/p>\n
American Pegula, who had defeated Rybakina on Sunday, has now won her past five matches against top-10 players and said she is feeling \u201cmore comfortable\u201d against the elite players this year.<\/p>\n
\u201cI don\u2019t think it feels like such a big deal,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
\u201cLast year when I made top five, I think I psyched myself out a little bit. You have thoughts in your head \u2013 do I really belong at that level?\u201d<\/p>\n
In contrast, Sabalenka rarely looked at ease at the newly constructed Estadio Paradisus, and described the playing surface as being \u201clike leather\u201d.<\/p>\n
The 25-year-old is one of several players who have complained about the condition of the court at this week\u2019s tournament.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou never know what\u2019s going to happen, whether the bounce is going to help you or work against you,\u201d Sabalenka said.<\/p>\n
\u201cI guess today was a day where it didn\u2019t work well for me. But it\u2019s OK \u2013 I still have a chance to pass the group, so I\u2019m trying to stay strong. I\u2019ll do some recovery and just try to analyse what happened. I\u2019ll do everything I can in the next match.\u201d<\/p>\n
Wednesday\u2019s Group B matches see Wimbledon champion Marketa Vondrousova take on Ons Jabeur, while US Open winner Coco Gauff faces Iga Swiatek.<\/p>\n
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